A new research shows that pets can help people manage long-term mental health conditions.

For the study, the researchers asked 54 participants who had been diagnosed with serious mental health diseases, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, to rate which aspects of their life helped them cope with the condition. 60 percent of participants put pets on the top list in the ‘first circle’ of support, and 20 percent put their pets in the second circle.

Helen Brooks, the lead researcher from the University of Manchester, says: “The people we spoke to through the course of this study felt their pet played a range of positive roles such as helping them to manage stigma associated with their mental health by providing acceptance without judgement.”